The neighborhood I live in right now was built at the height of the oil crisis, so we have all of these houses (not mine lol) that are built into the ground and have windows arranged to avoid direct sunlight during most of the day. The people in them probably are happy with their choices.

i wish my house was built that way. only the bottom 6' of the basement is underground, and the house faces straight west. there are a few trees here in the neoghborhood, but not enough! my house gets so hot. :/